BORROWING FROM RUSSIA. HILL. “The Washington Post and The New York Times recently reported on two separate operations — one conducted by social media researchers and another by a group of progressive Democrats — that utilized tactics similar to those used by Russians during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.”
INVESTIGATIONS STAFFING. DB. “With the Democratic-run House gearing up for a marathon of hearings and investigations into the Trump administration, one prominent D.C. public affairs shop is selling current and potential clients on a new service: a team of former Hill staffers, administration officials, and journalists who understand the experience of being in congressional investigators’ crosshairs.”
JACK ACT LAW. CONGRESS.GOV. “To require disclosure by lobbyists of convictions for bribery, extortion, embezzlement, illegal kickbacks, tax evasion, fraud, conflicts of interest, making false statements, perjury, or money laundering.” A prior news report is here.
RUN SIGNAL. NYT. “Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has hired several senior aides for an expected presidential campaign, a sign that she is all but certain to join the race against President Trump and that her entry may be imminent.”
TULSI OFFICIAL. CNN. “Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said Friday she will run for president in 2020.”
AR: ETHICS PLAN ANNOUNCED. LHL. “House Speaker Matthew Shepherd and incoming Senate President Jim Hendren say restoring trust in the Legislature is their goal in response to a federal corruption probe that’s led to the conviction of several former lawmakers and lobbyists.”
IL: ETHICS PLAN UNVEILED. CT. “Mayor Rahm Emanuel will use the even-greater-than-usual crisis of faith in Chicago public officials following the attempted extortion charge against Ald. Edward Burke to try to tighten up city rules on what outside jobs aldermen can hold and how they can influence City Council debate on behalf of business clients.”
MI: I’M GUESSING AN ISSUE? LSJ. “Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth announced his 2020 re-election bid using an Ingham County-funded email system, a move that could run afoul of Michigan campaign finance laws.”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.